What are my current rates?
Want to find out if you are eligible for a rates rebate? If you are, take a look at the Department of Internal Affairs website by clicking here
Please click on the links below to view the appropriate information:
Rates are set by Council through the annual plan process. After the final annual plan is adopted, Council then sets the rates by resolution at a public meeting.
Who Is Responsible For Paying Rates?
The owner of the property, not the occupier, is responsible for paying rates. However, there are some exceptions for leases entered into before 8 August 2001 where rent cannot be renegotiated, or where there is a registered lease of at least 10 years which applies to the whole property.
In most cases, a rating unit will be the area specified in a Certificate of Title. The rating unit will be rated on one rates assessment. This means that part of a property such as shop in a block of 10, will not be separately rated. The person liable for the payment of the rates will be the owner of the whole property.
Rating Information Database (RID)
Online access to rating data is available on our website. Our rating information database is also available to view in May of each year.
Any member of the public can see what rates have been assessed to a rating unit, but they cannot see the names of the owners, details of arrears, remissions, or postponed rates.
Full records for a rating unit can be inspected by the ratepayer, a person authorised by the ratepayer, a person who has become liable to pay the rates (for example a mortgagee), a solicitor, land broker or real estate agent.
Rates Instalments
|
First Instalment |
Second Instalment |
Third Instalment |
| 8th September |
8th December |
8th April |
A 10% penalty will be applied on the first business day following these three dates on any unpaid portion of the current instalment.
Rates Assessment
The first instalment is a little different in that you will receive an Assessment AND an Invoice.
The Assessment is for information purposes only and is separate to your Tax Invoice. The Assessment is included with the first instalment tax invoice which is posted out to you in early August.
The Assessment details your liability for rates for the whole year. It includes details of all rates set and assessed in the District, plus details of Council's remission and postponement policies. The information required to be disclosed on the Assessment is laid down in the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002. It is very comprehensive and so your Assessment will consist of multiple pages.
Rates Invoice
The rates invoice details the amount you are required to pay at each instalment. It is a tax invoice for GST purposes and is sent out 3 times a year. (It is accompanied by the Assessment for the first instalment only).
Payment Options
Council will accept payment of rates by cash, cheque, EFTPOS, direct debit, automatic payment, telephone banking, direct credit, internet banking and online credit card transactions.
Regional Rates
You will receive a separate Assessment and Invoice for your regional rates from Environment Waikato.
If you require further information, please contact our Customer Services Team.